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Good evening all. I am e-mailing you, as delegates and members of your Democratic Town Committee, the information for the State Representative convention for the 34th District.  The convention will be held on Tuesday, May 22^nd, at 7:00 p.m. at the Nathan Hale-Ray High School Library.  The address is 15 School St., Moodus, CT 06469. Following the convention, we will have a reception at 7:30 p.m. at Hilltop BBQ, 12 Ray Palmer Rd – also in Moodus. You are welcome to invite your family and friends to both the convention and the reception to show support for Christopher Goff as your Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 34th District.

We look forward to seeing you there,
Chris and Friends

East Haddam Grange Hall

The Next regular meeting of the East Haddam Democratic Town Committee will be held THURSDAY, May 24, at 7:15 P.M. at the Grange Hall at 344 Town Street.  PLEASE NOTE: This month’s meeting will not be held on Monday.

The meeting date has been changed to comply with regulations regarding the endorsement of candidates for registrar of voters and justice of the peace.

The Agenda

1. Approval of the Minutes

2. Treasurer’s Report

3. Old Business

Recognition Dinner

4. New Business

a)     Endorsement of candidates for election

b)    Quarterly business award

c)     Memorial Day parade

5.  Updates from Town Boards and Commissions

6.  Committee Reports

7.  Other Business

Adjournment

Visitors are welcome.

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Please plan to attend the East Haddam Democratic Town Committee special meeting to elect convention delegates.  The meeting will be held Thursday, March 29, at 7:00 P.M. at the Grange Hall at 344 Town Street.  A quorum is necessary for this meeting.  Call Brad Parker ( 860-873-8330) if you questions.

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The workshop to discuss campaign strategies, held on Wednesday, February 22, at the East Haddam Historical Society in East Haddam, was a great success. Members of the East Hampton, Haddam and East Haddam democratic town committees gathered to discuss how to manage political campaigns using technology and volunteers most effectively. Led by Lon Seidman, an expert in grassroots political campaigns, youth activism and media advocacy, and Jim Vigue, a member of the East Haddam Democratic Town Committee and the political director of the Connecticut Employees Union Independent, SEIU Local 511 Municipal Employees, the discussion was wide-ranging and useful.  The EHDTC thanks Jim and Lon for their time and good advice.

Call Brad Parker at 860-873-8330 for more information

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East Haddam DTC members:

Thank you for your participation as member of the East Haddam Democratic Town Committee during the past two years.  Without your guidance and financial support the EHDTC would not have been able to do the work essential to maintaining a strong, two-party system in our town.

While the results of the 2011 campaign were not as good as we would have liked, we were able bring attention to important issues that affect our community.  It is vital that we continue to focus on those issues over then next two years, and to begin now to think about our next campaign.

As is required by state election laws, at our January 11, 2012, meeting Democrats will vote on a new slate of members who, after the required waiting period, will elect a new chair and executive committee. The new members and officers will serve for the next two years.

This is also our opportunity to add new members to DTC and to say thank you to those of you who choose not to serve another term.  To help make this a smooth transition, we ask that you let Brad Parker (860-873-8330) or Sue Merrow (860-537-5302) know no later than January 8^th whether you intend to continue your service as a member of the DTC.

With appreciation for your public service,

Brad Parker

We congratulate the winners:

John Blaschik
Selectman

Kathleen Klinck
Town Treasurer

Harvey Thomas and Bruce Dutch
Board of Finance

Laurie Alt
Board of Education

James M. Curtin
Planning & Zoning Commission

And we thank:

Rob Smith for heading the DTC ticket and for his hard work.  He knocked on a lot of doors during this campaign. Thank you to Dee Hasuly, Matt Budzik, Kevin Leyland, Jim Vigue and Jessica Stone for running hard and offering your talent and resources to the East Haddam Democratic Party and to this town.

Thanks to the volunteers who drove, made phone calls, fixed or bought food and worked at the polls.  We appreciate those of you who hosted the Meet & Greets, and everyone who made a financial contribution. Thanks to Gayle Kranz and George Greider for their graphic designs and for turning their barn into a television studio, party central and the informal EHDTC headquarters.  Linda Ryder-Munet did a great job in getting our tent together on Election Day, and Mary Ellen’s barn dance fundraiser was fun and raised some much-needed money for the EHDTC.  Sue Merrow and Lyn May worked hard as co-chairs to get the word out and help our candidates with their campaigns.

We didn’t do as well as we wanted to do but now is not the time to quit.  We have to stay involved and work hard to make the next campaign even better.  I look forward to seeing you at the next EHDTC meeting on November 21, at 7:15, at the Grange Hall at 448 Town Street.

Thank you all,

Brad Parker, Chair

East Haddam Democratic Town Committee

Tuesday, November 8

At Nathan Hale Ray High School

6:00 am – 8:00 pm

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual–or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country. ”

Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams

After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout* in most established democracies since the 1960s.^[1] In general, low turnout may be due to disenchantment, indifference, or contentment. Low turnout is often considered to be undesirable, and there is much debate over the factors that affect turnout and how to increase it. In spite of significant study into the issue, scholars are divided on reasons for the decline. Its cause has been attributed to a wide array of economic, demographic, cultural, technological, and institutional factors. There have been many efforts to increase turnout and encourage voting.

*Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election (eligible voters can change in every country, and should not be confused with the total adult population).

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Rob Smith Leading a Walk on the Patrell Property

Former East Haddam Land Trust President Rob Smith lead a two-and-a-half hour exploration of the Patrell Preserve Saturday morning, October 22.

The property is a joint East Haddam and Lyme Preserve consisting of 42 acres with over 3000 feet of frontage on the federally designated Wild and Scenic Eightmile River. The  property was purchased cooperatively by the Towns of East Haddam and Lyme, the State of Connecticut, and East Haddam and Lyme Land Trusts.

Sunday, November 6, 6-9 PM

A Democratic Town Committee Fundraiser
At
The Greider- Kranz Barn

Bring your friends and neighbors to hear the Basically Blues Band, and to enjoy  silent and live auctions, good munchies, drinks and warm fellowship.  Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be bought at the door or from any DTC member.  For more information, call Mary Ellen Klinck at 860-873-8420.

Dance! Dance! Dance!
Get out those dancing shoes and come on over

DTC Members:  We need goody baskets to be auctioned – candy, wine, cheese, liquor.  Tickets for the dance will be given to members at the next DTC meeting at 7:15, Monday, October 17th, at the East Haddam Grange.